9 Computer Tricks Everyone Should Know

As it turns out, nifty computer tricks and shortcuts aren’t designed just for techies and enthusiasts. There are actually loads of hidden features you could easily be using to speed up your productivity. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced user, this list is guaranteed to introduce you to new tricks you can use every day!

1. Open old tabs using just a shortcut. If you lost a browser tab in a system crash or by accident, don’t fret. You can easily get back to the previous tab by pressing “Ctrl,” “Shift,” and “T” together on Windows machines.

2. Use “undo” for more than typing errors. You likely already know that “Ctrl” and “Z” can undo typing goofs, but this keyboard shortcut actually works in many other situations as well. For example, if you accidentally delete a file, you can just use the shortcut to instantly get the file back.

3. Get more out of your computer with the Power User menu. Windows is packed with rich features and content, but sometimes it can be a pain to reach them. Cut down on your time spent navigating by pressing with Windows key and “X” together. This will display a special menu stocked with many different useful options.

4. Create a “god mode” folder for quick computer management. There’s a super handy way to create an interface that allows you to take full control over your computer. The best part is that any user can do this! Create a folder called “God Mode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}” with no quotations, and you’ll soon have access to a fully featured menu that will allow you to do anything including changing your computer’s wallpaper to creating a VPN.

5. Tweak your startup apps. If your computer hangs for minutes on end when you first power it up, you could likely stand to disable some of your startup processes. You can easily do this by pressing “Ctrl,” “Shift,” and “Esc” together to display the Task Manager. Click the “Startup” tab and disable any non-essential programs from launching when Windows starts. If you’re on Windows 7 or an earlier release, hold the Windows key and “R” together to produce a “Run” window. Type “msconfig” into the field and press “Enter.” Here, you’ll be able to tweak your startup processes.

6. Screenshot only the important area of your screen. It can be pretty frustrating to screenshot your entire computer screen for one small error message or another minor detail. With the “Snipping Tool” in Windows, you can grab only the area of the screen that’s important. Click “Start” and type “Snipping Tool” into the search field.

7. Don’t forget about private browsing. Sometimes, it just makes sense to browse privately without leaving behind breadcrumb trails in your cookies or history log. You can instantly get to a private browsing tab in Chrome using the “Ctrl,” “Shift,” and “N” shortcut. On IE and Firefox, “Ctrl,” “Shift,” and “P” will achieve the same results.

8. Quickly lock your PC in a flash. If you have to temporarily get up from your PC but don’t want anyone tampering with your computer, you can quickly lock the OS with the Windows key and “L” shortcut.

9. Keep easy tabs on who/what is accessing your network. If you’ve ever noticed a drag in your internet connection speed, you’ve likely just attributed it to your ISP’s service being temporarily slow or down. However, many times, the problem lies on user end. If you have a home network and are experiencing laggy internet, check to see which devices are currently using your connection. You can do this from your router’s gateway control panel. Your particular model should be accompanied by a manual that can show you how to get a quick look at your network’s connected devices.

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